North Carolina woman charged with trying to pass phony $100 bills in Cerro Gordo County

CLEAR LAKE — Charges have been filed against a North Carolina woman accused of trying to pass counterfeit money at several Cerro Gordo County businesses.

Criminal complaints filed in Cerro Gordo County District Court say 19-year-old Ariyah Tate of Shelby North Carolina was part of a criminal enterprise traveling through multiple states and attempting to pass the same counterfeit $100 bill. The complaint says Tate was involved in passing the phony $100s at three Mason City businesses and two other Clear Lake businesses on December 18th.

A complaint filed by the Clear Lake Police Department states that investigations have established that the counterfeit bill has been actively circulated across multiple states, leading to a total loss that exceeds $30,000.

Tate has been charged with ongoing criminal conduct, a Class B felony punishable by up to 25 years in prison, as well as two counts of forgery, each a Class D felony.

Tate is scheduled to make her initial appearance in Cerro Gordo County court on Wednesday.